Hillary and Darfur

Of all the people I've emailed about Darfur (Bush, Rice, Sen. Clinton, Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jarrods), Hillary was the only one who sent a response.

February 23, 2005

Mr. Jonathan Kier
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Kier:

Thank you for sharing with me your concerns regarding the situation in Darfur.
It is important to me to know the issues that are foremost in the minds of my
constituents and I appreciate that you took the time to write to me about this
issue that is of importance to you and to many New Yorkers. I take this
situation very seriously.

We cannot stand by and let atrocities continue. The people of Darfur have been
subject to a genocidal campaign of vicious attacks conducted by the armed
militias of the Janjaweed, with the backing of the Sudanese government. The
concerted acts of these groups have created a humanitarian crisis of astonishing
proportions. We have an obligation to work with our allies and others to help
protect the people of Darfur.

In September, during Senate debate of the fiscal year 2005 Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, I spoke on the Senate floor in favor of doing all we can to
try to end the genocide in Darfur. In June, I joined more than 50 of my
colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging
him to work to end the atrocities committed by the armed militias operating in
the region; to commit additional resources; to publicly identify those
responsible for the atrocities and impose sanctions; to stabilize the situation through a monitored and enforced ceasefire and unfettered access for humanitarian aid; and to submit a United Nations Security Council resolution for a vote that
would condemn the government of Sudan, demand cooperation in the provision of
humanitarian aid, and authorize peacekeeping.

Also in June, to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of
Sudan and in Chad, I co-sponsored a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005
Department of Defense Appropriations Act that added millions in funding for
international disaster and famine assistance, and migration and refugee assistance
in the region. I am pleased to let you know that the amendment was adopted by
the Senate and this funding was retained in the legislation that was signed
into law.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted resolutions addressing the
situation in Darfur. The United States government should work to ensure these
resolutions have force, and continue its work with our allies to help bring
security and peace to the region and end the suffering of the people of Darfur.

Please be assured that I will continue to work in the Senate to help the people
of the Darfur overcome the dire challenges they face. Thank you again for
contacting me. Please check my website at http://clinton.senate.gov for updates on
this and other important matters being discussed before the United States
Senate.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton